Wire rope



Jan. 29, 1924. v 1,481,934

(3. c. SUNDERLAND WIRE ROPE F iled March 24, 1921 Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES C. SUNDERLAND, OF 'TR-EN'ION, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN A. ROEB- PATENT OFFICE.

LINGS SONS COMPANY, OF TRENTON,'NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WIRE ROPE.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES C. SUNDER- LAND, a citizen of the United States, resid-- tion has more particularly in view the provision of a wire rope for heavy duty such as,

. for instance, hoisting purposes, or, in general, where the rope travels over sheaves. Thebending of the rope over the sheaves,

particularly in heavy duty ropes, sets up a high tension and causes a heavy pressure of strand wires on each other whichis liable to produce wear and nicking.

The invention consists in the constructions hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates aconstructionof wire strand embodying the invention.

0 Figure 2 illustrates a modified construction of wire strand embodying the invention.

' Figure 3 illustrates another modification of wire strand embodying the invention.-

Strands for wire ropes as ordinarily constructed consist of a plurality of wires helically woundaround a core, the wires of the strand lyingin contact with each other.

In heavy duty work, particularly where the 40 rope travels over sheaves, the strains set up are such as to tend to cause the wires of the strand to wear upon each other. This wear produces nicking which shortens the life of the wires. Further, the nicked strands tend Referring to Fig. 1, for instance, there is here illustrated a strand consisting of eight outer strand wires 1 and four inner strand wires 2 wound about the core 3, the voids or spaces between the outer wires and the inner wires-being-occupied by small bearer wires 4, the bearer wires having the same lay and pitch as the strand wires. The core 3 is shown as a common metal core, but any other suitable core may be used. In the construction shown-in Fig. 2, the strand cons'ists ofa seven wire centre formed of six strand wires 5 wound on the core 3, nine inner strand wires 2 and eighteen outer strand wires 1, the. voids or spaces between the wires 1 and 2 being filled by bearer wires 4. Many other constructions may be used to embody the invention.

It will be understood that these bearer wires are hard wires, that is to say, they are substantially as hard as the helically wound strand wires. These bearer wires will, of

course. be smaller in cross-section than the helically wound strand wires, and preferably their maximum'diameter will not be more than about 50% of the diameter of the outer wires. In the bestconstructions embodying the invention, they willlie in the valleys between four inner and outer strand wires and will be of such size that they will be in contact with two of the outer strand wires and two of the inner strand wires. Incidentally, the bearer wires accurately preserve the circular contour of the strand but travel of the rope over sheaves, from rubbing against and nicking into each other. They have the further valuable function of increasing the effective metal area of the rope. Because of the elimination or substantial reduction of the wear and nicking of the strand wires and the reduction of friction in bending, the construction pro-. vides a rope of high flexibility and long life and one which is particularly valuable for heavy duty ropes.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bearer wires are shown as round in cross-section, but under certain conditions bearer wires having a cross-section other than round may be employed and secure improved results, in which case the crosssection should be such as to provide projecting portions which extend into the spaces between the adjacent strandfiwires which are in contact with the bearer wires. The rectangular form is the construction shown in ig. 3, the bearer wires 4 are square in cross-section, the corners of the square extending into the spaces between the strand'wire's which are in co tact with the bearer wires.

These bearer wires of special cross-section secure a somewhat increased effective metal area. as compared with round bearer wires, and an increased bearing surface for the strand wires, so that they better secure their spacing function and prevent wear of the strand wires, while the strands thus formed exhibit the high degree of flexibility which is characteristic of strands constructed in accordance with the invention. This feature of rectangular or similar bearer wires for securing these results is of value, even though the bearer wires are not hard wires, andjis thus claimed. 7

While the invention is particularly valuable for strands which are to be wound into a rope, it will be understood, of (ourse, that, under certain conditions, strands constructed in accordance with the invention may be used as single strand ropes.

What is claimed is 1. A strand for wire ropes comprising a plurality of layers of helically wound strand wires and bearers of hard wire between said referred, and in helically wound strand wires of two successive layers, the hardness of said bearers being at least substantially that of the strand wires.

2. A strand for wire ropes comprising a plurality of layers of helically wound strand wires, and bearers of hard wire between said helically wound strand wires of difi'erent layers, each bearer being in contact with four of the helically wound strand wires in two successive layers, the hardness of said bearers being at least subs the strand wires.

3. A strand for wire rope comprising a plurality of layers of helically wound strand wires, and bearers of hard wire between said tantially that of helically wound strand wires of two successive layers, the bearers being of such crosssection as to provide projecting angular portions lying between adjacent helically wound strand wires. Y

4:. Astrand for wire rope comprising a plurality of layers of helically wound strand wires and bearers of rectangular wire between said helically wound strand wires of successive layers, each bearer being in contact with four of the helically wound strand wires in two successive layers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES C. SUNDERLAND 

